Vol. IX. No. 22G. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



41: 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



DECEMBER. 



Tiiii:r> Pkiuoi). 

 Seasonal Notes. 



In continuation of what waa stated on this page 

 in connexion with limes, in the last number of the 

 Aijrkultural News, attention may l)e drawn to the use- 

 fulness of making observations in the field at the time 

 of harvesting the fruit. Such observations in some places 

 will show the advantage of cutlassing, over hoeing, in 

 lime plantations, as the former enables the fruit to 1)6 

 picked clean. At this time, too, an opportunity is aflorded 

 for making investigations as to the root system of lime trees. 

 These often show that the roots are confined to a region 

 extending to 12 inches below the surface of the soil, and, in 

 the case of healthy plants, that this region is fully occupied 

 by active rootlets. What information concerning the kind of 

 cultivation suitable for lime orchards is given as a result of 

 such investigations^ Make notes of any insect pests that you 

 may have noticed on Bengal beans during the eeason. 



Reference has been made, several time.s, to the treat- 

 ment of sugar-cane cuttings with Bordeaux mixture, before 

 they are jjlanted. AVith what methods of treatment of cane 

 cuttings, liefoie planting, are you [iractically acquainted! 

 State how the.se may lie improved. Among such methods, 

 in addition to the one just mentioned, there are: soaking in 

 water, and in lime water; while there is the very neglect- 

 ful plan of soaking them m puddles that are convenient for 

 the purpose, in the estate yard. What circum.stances are 

 there that make the last procedure specially dangerous! 



At the times when maize is reaped, selection should be 

 practised for the purpose of obtaining seed that is capable of 

 producing good plants for the next crop. In performing the 

 work of such selection, what matters should receive the chief 

 attention, (a) in the field, (b) when the examination of the 

 ears is being made? From what part of the ears 

 should the grains that are intended for sowing purposes 

 be taken! Decide, from your observations on the plants, 

 wliether they are most adapted to cross- or self-pollination. 

 What conclusion is supiilied by your observations, in regard 

 to )ilanling varieties of maize for the purpose of obtaining 

 good seed, capable of yielding the most vigorous plants, for 

 the next crop! In answering this question, the main regard 

 must be given to the two following circumstances: manner of 

 pollination, and the comparative vigour of plants obtained 

 from crossing different varieties and of those arising from 

 pollination among plants of one variety. How would you 

 ensure cross pollination between two ditterent varieties of 

 maize growing in the same field! 



Plants in certain parts of a field of maize are observed lo 

 show, especially on the ears, whitish swellings, which may 

 become very large; they finally burst, after becoming dark- 

 green in colo\ir, and a large nimiber of spores escapes from 

 them. What kinds of damage may residt from the presence 

 of this di.sease, and what is the lie.st method of preventing it 

 from spreading, as well as of guarding against future attacks! 

 (See Agricultural Neirs, Vol. IX, pp. 55 and 142.) (iive an 

 account of any other disease that is known to attack maize. 



Write descriptions of the different varieties of ground 

 nuts with which you are fa nti liar, "and State' what advantages 

 and disadvantages they po.sse.ss in.regard to: (1) time requir- 

 ed to attain maturity; (2) ease of harvesting; (3) resistance 

 to pests and di.sea.ses; (4)' suitability for local use; {5) suit- 

 ability for export. In what ways aTe fungus diseases capal)le 

 of causing damage to crops of ground nuts. (See W'st 

 Indian Bulletin, N'olume X, pp. 246 and 2.i6); information 

 in connexion witii the subject is also given in the Annual 

 Report on the Botanic Station, etc.-^.. Dominica, 1909-10, 

 which is to appear shortly. Gain as rcuch information as 

 you can concerning the culti.Mation of the ground nut, its com- 

 position and its uses. References in this connexion may 

 be given as follows: Airrirulturai Xtws, Vols. VIII, pp. 137, 

 206, 24.5, 31.5, 372 and 404; IX, pp. 4 and 68). 



Questions for Candidates. 



PRELIMlNAEy QUESTIONS. 



(1) <iive an account of a way of making budding tape. 



(2) How would you show that the leaves of living plants i 

 give off water ! 



(3) Give a description of the preparation of farmyard 

 manure. 



INTERMEDIATE QUESTIONS. 



(1) What ditlerences would you expect I o find between 

 the fruit of lime trees: (a) ' growing in dry, sandy soil; 

 (b) growing in heavy soils, where there is an excess of rainfall! 



(2) Give an account of as much of the structure of 

 a pitch pine board as can be seen with the aid of the 

 naked eye alone, making references to what you know in 

 connexion with the structure of the stem of an ordinary 

 dicotyledonous plant. 



(3) State, with illustrations, what is meant by the avail- 

 able ])lant food in the soil. 



FINAL (iUESTIONS. 



( 1 ) Choose a soil of a type with which you are familiar, 

 and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of applying 

 lime to it, with especial reference to (a) the soil itself; 

 (b) local conditions. 



(2) Give an account of the effects of tillage in relation 

 to (a) the physical condition of the soil, (b) the effects on 

 the micro-organisms which it contains. 



(3) State what should be the chief characteristics of any 

 fruit, with the cultivation of which you are acquainted, giving 

 reasons for the advantages attendant upon the possession of 

 those characteristics. 



Advantages of Guinea Grass Cultivation in 

 India. ( l ) It is a most quick glowing grass, as it yields in 

 forty-five days, a cutting (I feet to fi feet high, weighing 14 

 tons on the average per acre; (2) it yields the largest quantity 

 of grass known in a given time from a given area; (3) it is 

 highly nutritious, and is useful for feeding all kinds of stock; 

 (4) it is a real perennial, and occupies the ground for at least 

 a generation without requiring change; (5) it is the least 

 expensive to grow, with no costly seed bill to start with, no 

 weeding and very little interculture; (6) it is the be.st fodder 

 plant for intensive cultivation as it yields a quantity of fodder 

 which we cannot hope to get from eight times the area of 

 juari [Guinea corn, Amlrojiogon sDiyhum, var. i'ulgarix\ at 

 double the cost : it is a most hardy and drought-resisting 

 fodder plant, useful in times of scarcity; (7) it is free from 

 pests and fungus diseases, to which lucerne and other fodders 

 are liable; (8) it always yields a good return to a cultivator, 

 who.se object is sale of fodder. (The Agricultw\il Jouriud 

 of India, Vol. V, p. 365.) 



